West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-08-11
A SET OF SAPPHIRES.
BY OLIVE BELL.

stood beside her husbands chair with a
strange hesitaucy Of look and manner
could You let me have a little money2n
John Morgan, head book keeper in the
Commission-house of Macray N Co.. laid
down his morning paper with a stihed
SIGH. lie looked up kindly into the
ialr, rose.tinted face OF his young wife.
whose sapph re blue eyes were bent on
ms face cNpcCtantly. He did not reply
Tor moment. but drew her down on his
lap, aud Stroked the curly golden hair
with his slim, white fingers. She was a
lovely, loving, but thoughtlcsS little
woman-Shc was his wife, and he loved
hcr dcvotedly-bnts sometimes, not often,
her vanitics Jared on his finer sensibili-
ties; for Cecil Morgan was not the woman
10 meet the wants of grave, intellectual
man like her husband, whose worth.
honesty and nobility ofthought was sim
ply IN, omprchcnsible 10 her tender, but
shallow nature.
so, you want little money. How
much, Cecil"
lie smiled as the dimplcs came and
went IN the smooth pink checks.
''Oh, ever 50 much, John"
Ccclls spirits rose rs she carcsSed her
Jewcl,d fingers, and she laughed in u
childish fashion
"Wcll, out with it. How mch2 Tell
mc''-as she hcsitatcd. Il must hurry
down town, as we are unusually busy
lust now
"Nou are always that when wantanv-
thing, poutcd Cecil.
'Business is business, " he said. rather
impaiiently. "Tcll me what you want.
"Why, you know that lovely set OF
sapphircs in Raby d Co. s window
Ms. Morgan paused, and her spirits fell
tnfe, Tor Johns face grew suddenly
clouded; they are just perfect, and
would sult my style-match my eyes, you
know-and they are only two hundred
dollars. ! want them to wear with my
white moire at Mrs. Casscl's reception. "
Indeed ~ was Johns comment, as he
coughed slightly, and deliberately seated
his wife on an ottoman at his side.
"Cecil'-ho rose slowly to his feet-'I
am sorry to refuse you, but l cannot spare
that amount of money at present"
but they arc just lovely, john" per
sisted Mrs. Morgan, with heightened
color and so unique The settings are
peculiar IN design-so chaste and deli
cate, and they are so cheap. Only two
hundred Tor the complete setl'
Cecil'-John Morgan looked as if he
was about to tell some very unwholesome
tuths-''what would my employers
think of my wife wearing a two hundred
dollar set Of jcwelry2 Some Of your
evening dresses have already excited com
ment; but no one knew had walked to
and from the Office, denied myself cigars.
and even the daily papers, to pay for your
extravaganza.
MY extravaganza !" cried Mrs. Nor
gan, with subdued wall, as she put her
handkerchief to her eyes and burst into
childish tears-a weak woman's best de-
tense. That's always the cry-my ex-
trayaganccw
mo, Cecil, he said sadly, as he laid
his hand on the golden head, ''you can
not say that often rcproach you with ex-
travagance. But am tired Of living on
fare only fit for a hermit, and the ever
lasting pinching in everything but dress
You do not need this jewclry, and it
would not he advisable TO wear il. If YOU
had it; for men with only moderate sal
aries, must put up with moderate luxu-
ries. will deny you nothing in reason.
but you cannot have those sapphires. "
There was a ring OF unmistakable de-
cision in his voice lie slowly drew on
his overcoat and gloves, evidently ex-
pecting some reply from his wife. But
she made none, and sullenly refused to
look up, as he stopped to kiss her.
Don't let us quarrel over such
baublc1, C'cil," +" he said gently, as he
stroked the silkcn hair "Life is too
short TO be wasted i'm foolish bicker-
ings."
Then the door closed on him, and Mrs
Morgan burst into a passion Of angry
tears, for she had set her frivolous heart
on the sapphires, and it was not often
she diO not OBJ ain her hearts desire. She
was blonde, of the most attractive type
very lovely, with q hOwer-like face.
and a graceful figure that She loved to
array in costly raiment Her husbands
forced economy was often q sore trial TO
her, and was the cause Of many annoy
ing differences. Had she possessed
one atom Of financial judgment
she would have seen that their
present style Of living taxed her hus-
bands salary 10 the utmost. But she
had been a spoiled and Tctted child,
educated under fashionable influences,
and when, by one OF those strange freaks
Of fancy, John Morgan-gravc, matter
of-fact John proposed, Cecil, after the
manner Of too many Of her sex, married
him, with the expectation that her mar
ricd life would be ono long dream of
satisfied wants for John was a rising
man, and expected a partnership in the
firm. But his wifo's evident love Of dis
play weak cncd his chances Of promotion,
and Cecil secretly frettcd over the self
denial end economy her circumstances
forced her TO endure.
q" ] never wanted anything so bad in
my life, she mumurcd, as she dried her
eyes AID looked around the cosy break
fast-roou, with its warmth and sunlight.
tasteful furniture, chaste pictures and
blooming plants in The bay window, "and
think John might let me have them.
That hateful Mrs Payn will be sure 20
be out in something odd in jewels III
could only eclipse her / must have